Lidl GB has unveiled its strides towards sustainability in its fourth 'Good Food' report.

Reducing food waste and supporting communities

Lidl GB has achieved a 43% reduction in food waste since 2016, positioning itself well on the path to its 50% reduction target by 2030. 

Notably, the discounter surpassed its goal by donating more than 6 million meals to charities in 2022, preventing nearly 9,000t of food waste through the sale of 'Too Good to Waste' boxes.

This initiative, offering shoppers 5kg of fruit and veg per box, aligns with Lidl's commitment to providing value and quality.

Packaging innovations and carbon reduction

With 95% of its own-brand packaging now recyclable, reusable, renewable, or refillable, Lidl GB is actively tackling plastic waste. 

The retailer has reduced plastic packaging in its own-brand ranges by 29% since 2017, with a targeted 40% reduction by 2025. 

Lidl's partnership with Prevented Ocean Plastic has prevented the equivalent of 15 million plastic bottles from entering the ocean. 

To address carbon emissions, Lidl GB collaborates closely with suppliers on carbon reduction projects, including funding three water catchment projects with The Rivers Trust, set to expand to nine by 2025. 

Sustainable farming and future initiatives

As of February 2023, 45% of Lidl's British fruit and veg suppliers were LEAF Marque certified and the discounter aims for 100% certification by the year's end. 

Additionally, Lidl GB is at the forefront of technological innovation, having trialled smart refills in 2022 and being the first UK retailer to experiment with the Eco-Score environmental rating for products. 

These initiatives align with Lidl's commitment to halving the environmental impact of customers' shopping baskets by 2030. 

In a statement, Lidl GB senior CSR manager Mark Newbold said: “Little changes make a big difference – and we know they matter to our customers. From making more of our packaging recyclable and incorporating circularity into how we operate to increasing the amount of food we donate to our charity partners - we’re proud to have made such positive strides and we’re doubling down in order to meet the ambitious goals we have set.”